Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 77-15(5): Tlicho Intergovernmental Services Agreement

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for outlining the possible alternatives, the contract basis for the hiring of elders, so the elders can be paid upon completion of their services. I am just wondering, Mr. Speaker, when can the Minister meet with his department and our Tlicho Community Services Agency to expedite this process? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 77-15(5): Tlicho Intergovernmental Services Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the Member’s work and questions earlier in this House, I have already contacted the Department of Human Resources that deals with pay and benefits section. They are trying to make contact with the Tlicho Community Services Agency and their CEO and we will begin that process as soon as we can set up an appropriate time to get together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in my statement today, in speaking about the various forms of violence, one of the things I mentioned is the importance and the important work that our frontline workers do to deal with a lot of social issues. I should state that my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I can tell you that one of the things the Yellowknife committee has been working on at the frontline is the SideDoor Youth Centre. This is a place where there is shelter provided and they have a Living Room Program, which has gone through a pilot project for a few months last winter where youth could go and stay overnight in a supervised condition and they could seek shelter and stay away from trouble.

The Minister had committed in this House that this was a pilot project but that he was reviewing that with a view to extending it. I was told yesterday that this funding has depleted, ended, and there is no hope for future funding and that the organizer of the group is telling me they have had to turn down requests and calls from youth who want to access this service. I would like to ask the Minister how he could be so cold hearted and cut off this program when it just took off. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t consider myself cold hearted. My understanding is that we did provide funding and we are, as far as I know, still considering that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must say I am very pleased that the Minister’s cold heart is warming up and there is a glimmer of hope that we may still keep this program going. So, Mr. Speaker, may I just take this opportunity to give the chance to review this program and perhaps he could make the results of the pilot program to us. Will he give full consideration to extending and continuing this very important program in our community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The social envelope Ministers gather regularly and one of the issues we have been working on is a Homelessness Strategy. We have done work on that. There have been papers brought forward and we are bringing forward requests for funding and building things into our business plans. One of the things that has been identified as the need to the Homelessness Strategy is the service provided by the SideDoor. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate his answer, but I am not sure if I got as much commitment as I would like to see, Mr. Speaker. I just want to build on his first answer and say yesterday in the House we talked about the merit of this government spending $320,000 to do a review on an office building. Mr. Speaker, a program like this, we are talking $20,000 or $30,000 a year to keep these youth off the streets and into a program where they can engage in healthy activities. Can I ask the Minister to make a commitment here to say that he will review this and he will do all he can to revive this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In point of fact, I believe the amount of money that was provided was $100,000 last year and if the Member will check unedited Hansard, I will say it again, the social envelope Ministers have worked together. We have put together a Homelessness Strategy. We are building things into our business plans. There are requests for funding in there and one of the items that has been identified as a need in Yellowknife have been the need that’s met by the SideDoor and that has been identified in the work that we’ve done, the documents that we have pulled together and that are currently processing through the required budgetary and business planning processes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take that answer to be saying that it’s not a question of if, but it’s when. On that optimistic note, Mr. Speaker, I think the expectation was raised in that there was a pilot program. It went until March and they were looking for funding, and this is June and it’s not forthcoming. Can I ask the Minister when will these people be able to expect to hear from the Minister as to whether their project is a go or not? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 78-15(5): SideDoor Pilot Project In Yellowknife

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are going through the required budgetary and business planning steps. When that process is completed, that information will be available. This is a yearly process and clearly we want to be up and running well before the coming winter. Even though it’s only June, we are planning for the coming cold season. So we are working on this. We have been working on it for a number of months and the paperwork is already in the process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today spoke in regard to how the residents of Ulukhaktok would like to see the print making and tapestry facility renovated and utilized once again to show artistic talents. My question is for the Honourable Brendan Bell, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Can the Minister direct his regional staff in Inuvik to visit the mayor of Ulukhaktok to conduct both a physical and visual inspection of the facility and see if it can be renovated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 79-15(5): Ulukhaktok Print Making And Tapestry Shop

Mr. Speaker, obviously the arts and crafts sector is very important. It’s something our government wants to support. We are certainly prepared to investigate the future of the Holman print shop. I will be in Ulukhaktok next week with the Member. We are also planning to bring the regional superintendent, so that is probably the most opportune time for us to have a tour of the facility and make sure the mayor is able to talk to our regional superintendent so we can ensure some follow-up. I will commit to doing that and making myself available for that meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 79-15(5): Ulukhaktok Print Making And Tapestry Shop

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response, Mr. Minister. If we conduct a visual inspection of the facility and it cannot be renovated, will there be other options that we can look so they can conduct…(inaudible)…? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 79-15(5): Ulukhaktok Print Making And Tapestry Shop

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will approach it on a business case basis. Obviously it’s the BDIC that would have to make a determination or decision as to whether or not they are prepared to make an investment into a new subsidiary. Since it was rolled up or closed some time ago, I am not sure of the condition of the assets anymore. I am not sure what the investment or the requirement would be, but I would say that I know the community is very proud of their history and their ability in the field in print making. I have seen a number of the prints on my last visit to Holman. In fact, I purchased one there. It’s beautiful. I think there is a lot of attraction in having an industry like this up and running. So we will look at it, we will evaluate it and I know the BDIC would be interested in looking at a business case test, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the budget session, I asked questions of Minister Dent on the early childhood facility that they were hoping to incorporate into the new school in Inuvik. The government leases buildings, we look for office space, we try to build office space and the people of the Children First Society come forward with a good business case and I believe the government should build this facility and lease it back to them. They are willing to do that. They are willing to give the government back some money. The Minister, at the time, committed to go back to his FMB colleagues to bring this proposal forward to them. I would like to ask the Minister if he has met with FMB with the proposal and, if so, what was the outcome of the meeting? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven’t had a meeting with the proponents at this point, but I would be happy to meet with them and discuss their proposal.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response from the Minister. That was from February 15th. Now we are into June. The design phase is going to start soon and they will be expecting $550,000 from the Early Child Education Centre to get them through the design stage. I would like to ask the Minister if he could commit in carrying the cost for the design and the preliminary site development stage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to apologize to the Member; it appears that he has a copy of a proposal that I haven’t yet seen. As soon as I get my hands on that, I would be happy to consider it and see where we might be able to move with it. I would agree that we would like to do what we can to assist communities to ensure that childcare is provided and I will have to take a look at what they proposed specifically and see where we can go from there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have a copy of the proposal here and I would be glad to share it with Minister Dent. This proposal was given to me personally by the Children First Society. I will share that with Mr. Dent as soon as we are done here. I would like to ask the Minister if the department has done any work into estimating additional cost of housing childcare programs in schools. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 80-15(5): Inuvik Children First Society Facility Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The additional cost would be whatever the cost per square foot is to add the space in a school when that school might be under construction. We have a number of schools in the Northwest Territories in several communities where childcare programs are being offered in classrooms that are essential or not in use as part of the regular school program. For instance, schools that are under capacity. So it is not an uncommon situation. In fact, it’s one that we think is good use of a space. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I just want to ask the Minister because there may be some fear or confusion in terms of the news report on the housing issue in Hay River and for my people back in the Sahtu communities that do need this program that are in the house they have been living in for 20 or 30 years, that they are not going to be removed right away. There are some good things and they are not going to be removed or kicked out of their space. Can I ask the Minister what he’s doing in terms of clearing up this issue here for people in my communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the seniors and public housing initiative will continue on at the present time. It’s a policy of the government. Again, the policy clearly states that people who live in public housing will not have to pay rent. There is another process that is going on with regard to reviewing the income security review. That now falls within the domain of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We have decided to centralize our social funding responsibilities and try to ensure that it is a fair distribution of money. Right now the policy is there and the policy will remain until there is a decision to review the policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to hear the Minister say the policy is going to stay in place until a review takes place. Once the review is underway looking at the different policies, would the region be consulted, would the elders be consulted in terms of how this policy is going to fall out? I know there are some people in my region that think that this policy should be looked at very carefully, but that time will come, I guess, when the Minister announces the community consultations. So will all our elders be consulted in our communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before we proceed with anything, we will ensure that we do consult the seniors, seniors’ society, the seniors in our community and, more importantly, that through this legislative process that we have in front of us, we will be able to bring it forward by way of committees, but also have that debate here in the House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 81-15(5): Seniors’ Public Housing Initiative

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some seniors in my region who say it’s just as easy for them to get into public housing rather than try to support them through their own independent housing. It gets pretty hard for them. However, Mr. Speaker, each community and region has different scenarios, so I’m not going to take sides on this. As long as it’s fair and done in an equitable manner and that our region may be different from other communities, other regions. So will the Minister again ensure that this program here is done for how it’s intended to carry out and that our elders would be safeguarded, sort of thing, in the event that they are there, in there for their own security, in terms of not being able to be moved out or kicked out, or their rent will be covered? Thank you.